The weather was perfect for running at Carolina North Forest (CNF). It threatened to rain just a bit but we stayed dry the entire time. We even had some patches of blue sky float by.

Some orienteers arrived before noon, got instruction, felt confident, and headed onto the course early. Most of the participants took the class. They started out enjoying a group walk with instruction in this unusual form of orienteering, Radio-O. As participants gained confidence, they would leave the group and head off to make their own way. We also had a some experienced ARDFers that headed out early. Heading out last, we had a few that missed the class, went bravely out with minimal instruction, and still did well. Brilliant!

Class and group outing.

The class started a bit after noon. After a short introduction, some headed off by themselves. Others went as a group. At the start, the group kept to the trail. Our first goal was fox #2. We talked about technique. We would stop and listen when fox #2 come on, check our progress along the map, and note the change in the bearing to the fox. We also took time to listen for the other foxes and discuss strategy. As we neared the fox, the pace quickened. We left the trail, cut around a river, back onto a trail. Everyone was getting excited as the bearings kept changing. We knew we were getting close. Some participants raced ahead of the group. And then, there it was! Fox #2!

Next, on to fox #1. For the rest of our time out, participants would leave the group as they grew comfortable with the technique. Eventually, the group was down to just two people. We made it back to the finish having found all the foxes on the east side of CNF (1, 2, 4). Some participants that left the group went much further, searching for the distant foxes 3 and 5.

After the run.

Back under the tarp at the start/finish area, the discussions went on for a couple hours. There is so much to put together when mixing orienteering and radio. Suddenly it was 4:30 PM. Wow! Time to pick up.

Participants.

We had 14 starts. It was a diverse group of experienced ARDFers, orienteers, and newcomers. For the first time we were joined by members of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools ARDF community. Others, came interested in the tech/radio aspect of the sport. I’m pretty sure we got pictures of everybody. You can download them from Kelly and Patrick’s web site on this page.

The course.

Course area included most of CNF. The longest distance across the course area was 2.9 km. The longest distance from the start to a fox was 1.8 km. And optimal run through all five foxes and the homing beacon was 4.8 km. There was a 750 m exclusion zone (radial distance) around the start with the exception that the homing beacon was only 100 m away. Each fox had a 400 m exclusion zone around it. So except for the homing beacon being so close to the start, this was a slightly short 80m classic course. All transmitters could be heard from all locations in CNF using entry level receivers. Thank you to Charles Scharlau for donating the antenna tuners that made this possible.

Reporting of results for this event.

We are presenting the ARDF/Radio-O results differently from regular orienteering events. ARDF events are more closely related to Score-Os than regular orienteering events. Participants choose the order in which they search for a subset of the controls (foxes). The subset depends on the level (analogous to white, yelow, brown, etc. levels in regular orienteering courses). The maximum number of foxes is five (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5). There is a special control (the homing beacon, HB). Everyone must find the homing beacon and must punch it last.

Almost all the participants are still learning how use the equipment. So we are not following the intended pattern to the letter. Participants were allowed to choose the foxes they wanted to search for. This will change as participants get more experience.

The results below are reported as follows. The participants are listed in groups by the number of foxes they found. In the group heading, the optimum order through the originally intended foxes is listed along with the distance. This distance includes a pass by the homing beacon just before the finish. Within each group, participants who also punched the homing beacon are listed first. For each participant, foxes are listed in the order they were found.